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This week I heard a lot of people talk about the need for tax relief.  State Senator stressed that one of his top priorities is property tax relief, and said that he hopes the State will return this year's surplus to property taxpayers.  "We have a surplus this year, about two and a half billion dollars more than was allocated," he said.  "I think that entire $2.5 billion should be returned to the property taxpayer."

At the Senator's meeting with Lansing School District officials there was some discussion of the upcoming capital project and why it might be a hard sell.  Town Councilman Matt Besemer, who ran on a platform of tax reform, expressed concerns about five upcoming tax and/or fee impacting projects including the school district's project, sewer, a new fire house in Lansing Village, the Charter Library initiative and proposed water districts.

At that Town Meeting more than one resident brought up the issue of taxes.  One even said it is time to abolish County Government.  Richard Thayler, a former prosecutor in Tompkins County said, "I really think it's time to put government next to the people.  That's what towns are doing, that's what villages are doing.  But that's not what the County's doing."

I heard some talk about unfunded mandates, but many people suspect that what local governments refer to as mandates really aren't.  A lot of people, government officials included, have expressed concern that some people who have fixed or low incomes may be driven out of Lansing as taxes and fees rise.  Fuel costs have made the issue even hotter.

And of course this is the time when people are thinking most about taxes -- Town, Village and County taxes are due at the end of this month.

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